Baroque during the enlightenment

Yet outside of the exhibition period, churches in Paris were known as places to admire contemporary painting: the artists therefore put their best work on display. Parishes and congregations looking to renovate the capital’s churches were among the main sponsors of painters throughout history. This exhibition aims to reveal the significance and the diversity of religious painting in Paris, from the Regency to the Revolution: from the heirs of the grand siècle, such as Largillierre and Restout; to disciples of rocaille, from Lemoine to Carl Van Loo; to the best of Neoclassicism, from Vien to David. In a spectacular setting, centre stage is given to the works still conserved in Parisian churches, which have been restored for the occasion as part of an unprecedented campaign. In addition to immense altar paintings that revealed stunningly rich colours upon restoration, the Petit Palais’s galleries also feature sketches and other large paintings that were scattered among different museums, churches, and cathedrals throughout the country, offering visitors the opportunity to rediscover an entire segment of 18th-century painting at its peak.GENERAL CURATORS: Christophe Leribault, Director of the Petit Palais and Marie Monfort, Head of Conservation of Civil and Religious Artworks for the City of Paris.CURATORS: Maryline Assante (Petit Palais), Lionel Britten (Musée d’Orsay), Jessica Degain, Nicolas Engel, and Emmanuelle Federspiel (COARC), Christine Gouzi (University of Paris-Sorbonne) and Guillaume Kazerouni (Rennes Fine Arts Museum).#BaroqueLumières